YOUR QUESTION

06/09/2020 Gladys Kravitz

How did it go when you noticed you had become an adult? Was it the first time you got paid for a bass gig? When Mr. Bungle struck a record deal? I'm curious as to how the crossing of the threshold from boy II man worked for you.
From the outside, you're a man of extremes -- handsome, youthful looks, vibrant energy as a player, verbal wisdom in lyrics and interviews... and the best old man voice in the game. So it's funny to imagine you were once in the process of coalescing who you were into an adult. Of course, the process never fully ends, but it's interesting to think of times when we weren't yet "fully grown" and suddenly we are. So maybe you remember a situation where you figured out "oh man, I'm not a kid anymore".
PS: In a recent interview to the Vinyl Guide, Trey retold the story of the Secret Song in DV and made an amazing impression of your Old Man voice. You guys should be the new Statler and Waldorf!

MY ANSWER

I don’t think that threshold is ever obvious or apparent for that matter. How could it be? Is there a snap that happens in one’s brain? I don’t believe so. As a culture that has ultimately forsaken ritual we have no definitive transition point. I would say any level of pain or trauma will put some gray hairs on you. To some degree I’ve always felt old. I was a curmudgeon at a young age. But due to good genes, I suppose, I’ve always looked younger than my age which means I wasn’t really taken seriously until I was in my mid 40s. It’s certain that the process never ends, nor should it. How frightening to image there is nothing left to learn.